Tips to keep you sane during home reno

Hammer And Nail, The Province03.26.2011

With a renovation, your home becomes the work site. If you can't move out while the work is being done, prepare yourself: living with the project from start to finish can take its toll on you and your family.

Dear Leanne: We are building a new home and in our kitchen, we have the option of traditional doors covering our lower cabinets or drawers. Is there a...

Renovating your home is considerably different than building a new home.

With a renovation, your home becomes the work site. If you can't move out while the work is being done, prepare yourself: living with the project from start to finish can take its toll on you and your family.

Once construction begins, you'll long for simple pleasures like a dust-free home or a fully functioning kitchen. While a makeshift kitchen in your living room doesn't sound so bad at first, it will get old -really quickly.

If you're working with a renovator, here are five tips to help you stay sane during the process:

- Establish clear lines of communication

Having open communication with your renovator is key. Determine who you and your renovator should contact for daily decisions or an after-hours emergency. For example, your contact may be the lead carpenter for the job, while the renovator's contact could be your spouse. Designate a backup for each contact person to assure continuity in anyone's absence.

Speak up: If you are uncertain about any aspect of the project, be sure to let the contact person know.

- Call a pre-construction meeting

One way to ensure the success of your project is to plan for, and participate in, a pre-construction meeting. This allows your renovator to clarify procedures and explain how the job will progress. It also offers both you and your renovator an opportunity to prepare for these issues that may arise later.

Some of the issues to cover: Will you allow your renovator to place a company sign on your property? (Remember that, in addition to being a marketing tool, signs help contractors and suppliers locate your home.)

What areas of your home will be off limits to workers? Does your house have an alarm system? Will workers need a key or will someone always be there?

How will you ensure your children and pets stay out of the workspace?

Does the renovator anticipate any interruptions of utilities during the project? If so, when and for how long? At certain stages, the project may affect basic household necessities like water and electricity. Will you need to vacate the house at any time?

Establish guidelines for the renovation crew working on the project: Hours of work, impact on neighbours, and parking and bathroom facilities are all considerations.

- Prevent renovation angst

Keep your eye on the prize and remind yourself why you're renovating. In the house, designate a safe haven where you can escape the chaos and commotion.

- Dampen the dust

A renovation is a dust storm, so try to keep up with it even if it seems like a losing battle. It helps to declutter and remove, or cover with plastic, anything that might get damaged by the dust.

It also helps to seal off doorways and stairs and turn off central air or heating when workers are sanding. While you're at it, stock up on extra furnace filters so that you can change them often.

- Celebrate the small stuff

Whether you're doing a full-scale renovation or a single room, you will see progress along the way, so celebrate it.

As writer Chantal Eustace of Tsawwassen said of her renovation: "When a window is installed, admire it. Don't focus on the exposed insulation beneath it or the unfinished flooring below. Embrace the improvements, one nail at a time."

That's good advice. Your sanity will remain almost in tact if you maintain a sense of humour and remember that certain things are out of your control.

Looking for some expert advice on your home renovation? Send your question to hammerandnail@sunprovince.com and it may be answered in an upcoming Hammer and Nail.

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